Even in his twilight years, he swept through the chaotic army of ten thousand warriors!

But Ji Yan could understand the respect that ordinary people had for such an old monk…

But now he has to face a group of unscrupulous banner officers. What can this old monk do?

Seemingly sensing his confusion, Liu Zheng offered an explanation.

"Although I'm not entirely sure either..."

"Elder Ji, you've lived in Qingshui your whole life; you must have experienced demonic disturbances, right?"

This question brought Ji Yan's thoughts back to forty years ago.

Back then, people's lives were even harder than they are now. It was common for demons from the mountains to enter villages and devour people.

"But wasn't that quelled by the Shimizu Guards..."

Ji Yan continued speaking, but gradually became less confident.

When he was still an ordinary person, he firmly believed this.

That was one of the few things that made everyone believe the imperial court was still alive...

But now, looking back at these flag officers...

Liu Zheng nodded and said calmly.

"That wasn't done by Wei. I heard it was Master Jiekong who, having mastered Buddhism, single-handedly drove back all the great demons."

"For a full forty years, he has been protecting Qingshui..."

"That is why he also enjoyed extremely high prestige in the garrison."

Upon hearing this, Ji Yan immediately understood.

In these impoverished years, one person plugged the gap in disaster relief, and another protected the peace and tranquility of the entire Qingshui County...

It was precisely because of such a person that the banner officials were able to amass wealth and amass troops without any worries.

"Perhaps you older folks would find it easy to chat with?"

Liu Zheng looked at Ji Yan, waiting for his answer.

"As for the guardian deity of the clear water, this old man naturally wishes to pay him a visit..."

"Wouldn't it seem insincere to go with all this trouble?"

Ji Yan doesn't aspire to be a saint in chaotic times, but towards others...

He admired him.

Liu Zheng waved his hand and smiled frankly.

"Whether you've caused trouble or not, he won't care. I'm just taking you there by chance, so just consider it making a friend."

"When you reach the level of a master, your heart is filled only with compassion..."

-

The night was as dark as ink, spilling over the blue brick walls of Qingshuiwei and over the lonely Ping'an Temple on the outskirts of the city.

The temple was built by rebuilding after it collapsed, mostly made of jagged stones. It wasn't exactly dilapidated, but you could tell it was poor.

The bluestone path was covered with moss, and only an oil lamp lit up inside the main hall, its dim yellow light flickering, creating a sense of Zen.

Liu Zheng led Ji Yan up the steps, but their pace gradually slowed down.

"This is it."

"Behind the temple is the orphanage, where everyone should be asleep by now. The master should be in the temple."

"Could you... go knock on the door?" Liu Zheng stopped outside the temple gate and lowered his voice. The dignified commander was now acting like a child who had done something wrong.

Ji Yan looked up and saw the awkwardness on Liu Zheng's face, and guessed what was going on.

Liu Zheng brought him along, perhaps with the intention of having him help ease the tension.

Ji Yan nodded slightly, his cloudy eyes sweeping over the mottled wooden door.

He lightly knocked on the wooden door with his fingers, three soft knocks, neither humble nor arrogant.

"This old man, Ji Yan, has come to pay his respects."

But as the sound faded, only the chirping of autumn insects remained on the mountain.

After a long while, a hoarse, aged voice was heard from inside the courtyard, as calm as still water.

"I thought the Commander-in-Chief was too busy with official duties to come to my dilapidated temple tonight..."

Under the cover of night, a single sentence made Liu Zheng visibly embarrassed, and he hurriedly stepped forward to reply.

"Master, I really am..."

But before he could finish speaking, the wooden door creaked open, and a faint scent of sandalwood wafted out.

"Stop talking, come in."

Ji Yan and Liu Zheng stepped inside. The Zen temple was extremely small, with only one meditation room, a Buddha statue, and a few withered bamboo stalks, its simplicity reaching its extreme.

In front of the Buddha statue, an old monk sat cross-legged, with a young monk behind him bowing his head and waiting.

The old monk was deep in thought, his robes faded from washing, and his body was thin and frail, already in his twilight years like Ji Yan.

"Come on, let's see how you solve this move."

Liu Zheng gave a wry smile, "Come on, Master..."

"With my terrible chess skills, you even taught me how to place a piece..."

He paused slightly before changing the subject.

"Yes, Master, look at this person next to me..."

Ji Yan stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Ji Yan is an old man from Ji Family Village. I have long admired your virtuous reputation, Master, and have come to pay my respects."

Just like the time he knocked on the door, Monk Jiekong seemed completely absorbed in the chessboard and couldn't hear him at all.

On the way, Liu Zheng told him that Jie Kong didn't care about ordinary visits at all, and he only became half a friend of the master by chance.

Liu Zheng was somewhat embarrassed, but he persisted.

"Yes, Professor Ji, do you know how to play chess?"

"How about..."

He was still talking when Ji Yan, showing no stage fright, took a step forward and sat down, reaching out to grab a chess piece.

Liu Zheng's mind went blank for a moment...

Since meeting Ji Yan, Ji Yan has always given him the impression of being well-mannered.

He had also made it clear to Ji Yan that this was just a matter of getting a feel for it; if it worked out, great, if not, he wouldn't force it.

He already knew on the way that Ji Yan could play chess. His words just now seemed to be directed at Ji Yan, but they were more of a consultation with the master.

How could he not understand? And if he did understand, how could he be so rude?!

As expected, Ji Yan's hand, which was trying to grab a chess piece, was pressed down by Jie Kong...

"No need..."

The old monk spoke calmly, then turned his gaze and fixed it on Ji Yan.

I stared at that one glance for an extremely long time.

After a long while, the trace of displeasure in his empty eyes seemed to disappear back into the pool like a fish swimming away.

"Let's start a new game."

After saying that, he went to pick up the chess piece, but this time Ji Yan stopped him.

"Once this move is made, it's over..."

There was no unseen information in Ji Yan's lowered eyes, only calmness.

"I am but a humble old man from the mountains, but I was told this the very first time I played chess..."

"Once a move is made, there's no going back."

After saying that, the white stone was placed.

He came with respect.

But from the moment he stepped into the temple, that respect vanished completely.

The moment I pushed open the door, the scent of sandalwood wafted out...

Normally, it's fine for temples to have a fragrance, but this sandalwood incense is very strong and heavy.

But this heaviness is meant to conceal something...

Bloody smell.

However, under the effect of searching for the truth and distinguishing the false, these concealments were magnified infinitely in Ji Yan's eyes...

Even then, Ji Yan still held onto a sliver of hope, thinking that perhaps the master had suppressed and killed the villain?

But as you walked in, the stench of blood grew stronger and stronger; it was not something that could be accumulated overnight.

Finally, after passing the Zen temple, it finally landed...

Jie Kong, and the Buddha statue behind him.

The Buddha statue contains a hidden mechanism, but what is the purpose of this mechanism...?

His heart suddenly turned cold.

When that respect vanished, his actions became increasingly casual.

The moment Jie Kongshou pressed down on his hand, his stance training reached a boiling point...

That tiger's roar was a kind of test.